The El Niño Phenomenon in Panama Means Rainfall will Decrease Creating a State of Alert
The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) reported Tuesday May 12 that according to national climate monitoring criteria, it is on alert due to the incursion of the El Niño phenomenon. Rainfall is important when you rely on the Panama Canal for income. “In recent weeks, above-normal sea temperatures have been recorded in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, accompanied by changes in the atmosphere, which confirms the start of a new El Niño event,” it states. In a statement, the IMHPA highlights that typical conditions associated with this phenomenon are being observed and that there is a high probability that these will continue for the next few months. El Niño brings severe drought, reduced rainfall, and high temperatures to Panama, significantly disrupting the nation’s economy and water supply. It causes historically low water levels in Gatun Lake, restricting transit through the Panama Canal and threatening regional water resources.
Key Impacts of El Niño on Panama Include:
- Panama Canal Disruptions: Reduced water levels in Gatun Lake, which operates the canal locks, force authorities to cut the number of daily ship transits and decrease draft depths. These restrictions, as seen in 2023, create significant global shipping delays.
- Severe Drought: El Niño typically brings a later start and earlier end to the rainy season, leading to 8% or more lower-than-average annual rainfall.
- Water Supply Crisis: The reduced rainfall threatens fresh water supplies for over half of Panama’s population that relies on the same reservoir system as the canal.
- Economic Impact: The disruption to international shipping combined with reduced agricultural production due to drought has substantial negative effects on the national economy.
- Unique Local Impacts: While El Niño generally causes drier conditions across the country, studies show the most severe negative rainfall anomalies are located in the southwestern part of the country on the Pacific side.
- Low water levels in Panama Canal due to increasing demand …May 1, 2024 — Rainfall in Panama is known to be strongly influenced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with large storms.
- El Nino drought: Panama Canal cuts ship numbers further – BBC Oct 31, 2023 — The Panama Canal will make more cuts to the number of ships using the waterway due to the worst drought in over 70 years.
BBC
- Drought behind Panama Canal’s 2023 shipping disruption ‘unlikely’ …May 1, 2024 — A lengthy drought caused widespread disruption to commercial ships passing through the Panama Canal in 2023.
